Lamp mounting structure



March 13., 1962 c. A. WOODCOCK LAMP MOUNTING STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 5, 1958 C; ar/e: A. K/aodaock A A a/75y March 13, 1962 A. WOODCOCK 3,025,390

LAMP MOUNTING STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I.

Filed Nov. 3, 1958 3,025,390 LAMP MOUNTHNG STRUCTURE Charles A. Woodcock, pringfield, Ill., assignor to Stewart- Warner Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Virginia Filed Nov. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 771,298 2 Claims. (Cl. 240-415) This invention relates to a lamp mounting arrangement and more particularly to a single-element resilient lamp support for supporting a lamp within a cylindrical housmg.

Motor vehicles which are adapted for operation on roads in cross-country travel, such as trucks for farm use as well as vehicles used by the Armed Forces, must of necessity be provided with resilient mounts for the vehicle head lamps so as to provide a certain amount of shock resistance due to the excessive vibrations encountered in such use. Without such means, there is frequent lamp'failure because of injury to the lighting filaments. These vehicles have in the past been provided with lamp supports which include resilient cushioning means such as rubber or the like. The known support means usually incorporates a relatively large number of parts for holding a rubber cushion or the like between the vehicle body and the lamp structure itself. In many cases, additional springs, plates, or a plurality of screws are utilized to hold the structure together. These fasteners not only make a lamp support of this type relatively costly, but also make it most difiicult to remove the lamp after the filament has burned out from normal usage. Furthermore, not all of the vibration is absorbed by the prior resilient cushioning means since such means usually consists of a solid element which allows the transmission of vibration through the cushion to the lamp itself.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved lamp support in which the support means between the housing and the lamp comprises a single, resilient element.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved, single-element, resilient lamp support which will greatly dampen any vibrations passing through the support means from the housing to the lamp.

It is another object of this invention to eliminate the need for auxiliary spring metal clips or screws normally employed to mount a lamp within a cylindrical housing.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an improved single-element resilient lamp support wherein the lamp may be easily and quickly removed from the support means to allow replacement with a minimum amount of time and expenditure of energy.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principles of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated of applying these principles.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view, partially in section, of a resilient lamp mounting structure illustrating one embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of another embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a sectional portion of the single-element resilient lamp support of the present invention; 7

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevation view, partially in section, along the lines 55 in FIGURE 1.

the use of any complex tools.

BfiZEBQh Patented Mar. 13, 1962 ice Briefly, the invention is directed to a single-element resilient lamp support for supporting a lamp having a circumferential flange portion within a cylindrical housing member. The single-element, resilient support includes inner and outer, spaced, resilient annuluses, the inner annulus including front and rear inwardly projecting ribs which define an annular cavity to receive the circumferential lamp flange. The outer annulus is adapted to extend rearwardly along the outer surface of the cylindrical housing member. The inner and outer annuluses are joined near their forward ends by a radially extending, integral connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion intermediate of its ends has a cross sectional thickness which is substantially less than the over-all cross sectional thickness of either the inner or outer annuluses. This decreased cross sectional portion acts to enhance the natural resilience of the single-element support and most of the vibration transmitted from the lamp housing is taken up at this point. In the preferred embodiment, the outer annulus includes a number of inwardly directed lugs which pass through suitable openings formed within the cylindrical housing member whereby the single-element resilient lamp support is secured to the cylindrical housing.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a generally cylindrical housing member 10 which is positioned such that its axis lies along the horizontal plane, the cylindrical housing being integral with a vertical wall 12 such as that normally associated with a vehicle head lamp, wherein the head lamp housing is part of a fender or other portion of the vehicle body structure. A conventional sealed beam head lamp 14 is adapted to be positioned within the cylindrical housing 10. The present invention is directed to a single-element, resilient, lamp support 16 which forms the only means for positioning and supporting the lamp 114 within the cylindrical housing it). This single-element, resilient, lamp support 16 is preferably made of rubber, but may be constructed of any material which will provide the resilience needed to prevent damage to the lamp filament when the lamp housing is subjected to excessive vibration.

Looking now at FIGURE 3, there is shown a portion of the single-element resilient lamp support 16. The lamp support 16 includes two main portions, an inner resilient annulus 18 which is somewhat shorter and is spaced slightly away from an outer resilient annulus 20. In order to provide a secure mounting arrangement for the lamp 214, the inner resilient annulus 13 is so formed as to include front and rear, inwardly directed annular ribs 22 and 24- which define an annular cavity 26 intermediate thereof. The lamp 14 includes a conventional circumferential flange 28 which is received by the annular cavity 26 during the assembly operation, wherein the lamp 14 is inserted within the resilient single-element lamp support 16. The particular lamp support making up the present invention allows the conventional lamp to be inserted from either end by simply deforming either the front annular rib 22 or the rear annular rib 24. Of course, this distortion is only temporary and the ribs and cavity are of such construction that the ribs spring back into place immediately after the annular cavity has received the circumferential lamp flange. The ribs 22 and 24 also act to seal the lamp within cavity 26. Thus, the present invention provides an extremely easy method for removing the lamp 14 from the lamp support 16 without in any way disturbing the lamp support attached to the cylindrical housing, and without the necessity for All that is required, is the other like implement bethe circumferential lamp placement of a screwdriver or tween either rib 22 or 24 and flange 28 whereby the resilient rib may be deflected away from the circumferential lamp flange sufficiently to allow the lamp to be pulled from within the annular cavity.

While various arrangements may be utilized for securing the outer annulus of the single-element resilient lamp support to the cylindrical housing, the embodiment in FIGURE 1 makes use of a number of openings or slots 30 which are formed within the cylindrical housing at a predetermined distance back from the forward edge of the cylindrical housing member 10. The singleelement resilient lamp support 16 is further provided with a number of L-shaped tabs 32 which are formed integrally with the outer annulus 20, at the rear thereof, and extend inwardly from the outer annulus 20 so as to project within the openings or slots of the cylindrical housing 10. The L-shaped lugs 32 include leg portions 34 which project toward the forward end of the cylindrical housing, the inner surface of the lugs being adapted to contact the inner surface of the cylindrical housing member 10 so as to prevent relative movement between the resilient lamp support 16 and its associated cylindrical housing member 10. The leg portions 34 on the lugs 32 extend to a position immediately adjacent the outer surface of the inner annulus 22 opposite the rearward annular rib 24 so as to dampen or snub excessive oscillatory motion of the lamp supported by the inner annulus 22. The means employed for securing the singleelement resilient lamp support to the cylindrical housing are only indicative of one manner in which this coupling can be made. For instance, the resilient lamp support may be rigidly secured to the outer surface of the cylindrical housing member by any conventional means such as gluing or the like. Since the lamp may be removed easily from the lamp support by merely deforming either the front or rear annular ribs 24 and 26 of inner annulus 18, there is no need to remove the resilient support 16 from the housing 10 to change the lamp.

In order to provide an improved lamp support of the resilient type wherein the greater portion of the vibration transmitted to the lamp housing may be absorbed prior to its being transferred to the lamp, the present single element, resilient lamp support includes a unique and advantageous arrangement for joining the inner and outer annuluses 18 and 20. As indicated in FIGURE 3, the inner annulus 18 and the outer annulus 20 are joined adjacent their forward ends by a radially extending, integral connecting portion 36. In order to greatly enhance the natural resilience of the improved mounting arrangement, the connecting portion 36 is relieved at 38 intermediate its ends. This provides a portion 40 intermediate of the two annuluses 18 and 20 of substantially less cross sectional thickness than the over-all cross sectional thickness of either the inner and outer annuluses. The formation of this thin integral connecting member along the front edge of the single-element, resilient lamp support provides a relatively small area between the two annuluses in which most of the inherent resiliency of the lamp support is concentrated.

While the single-element, resilient lamp support is sutficiently rigid, such that the lamp 14 will not move appreciably within the annular cavity 26, upon excessive jolting or the like, there will be a tendency for the inner annulus 18 to flex relative to the outer annulus 20 and the flexing will occur about the relatively thin intermediate portion 40 joining the two annuluses. As indicated in FIGURE 5, the lamp 14 fits snugly within the rubber lamp support 16 with the rear wall of the lamp 14 resting against the rear annular rib 24. In order to locate the lamp 14 within the resilient lamp support, there is further provided a number of depressions 42 which are located around the periphery of the rear annulus rib 24. A cooperating lug 44 is located on the rear of the circumferential flange 28 as indicated in FIGURES l and 2 and the lamp 14 is positioned within the annular cavity 26 such that the lug 44 is located within one of the depressions 42 as may be desired. Thus, the lamp 14 is prevented from rotating within the annular cavity unless suflicient force is utilized to move the lug 44 from its respective cavity 42 by deforming the rear annular rib 24.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, the lamp is provided with a number of electrical terminals 46 at the rear of the lamp which are connected by conventional means to a number of incoming electrical leads 48. The present support means in no way hinders this connection, and as a matter of fact allows such connections to be easily made. This is accomplished by merely pulling the leads out through the opening prior to mounting the lamp 14 and connecting the leads as desired. After the leads have been connected, the lamp is merely inserted within the annular cavity 26 by momentarily deforming the rib or ribs 22 and 24.

The present improved lamp support may be advantageously used with the conventional dome-shaped support which is usually mounted upon an exterior bracket or the like rather than in a cylindrical recess formed within a fender such as that indicated in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1. The lamp support of this type, as indicated in FIGURE 2, includes a dome-like housing 50 which is constructed of sheet metal or the like and includes a front portion 52 which is cylindrical in configuration and is identical in all respects to the cylindrical housing 10 of FIGURE 1. The housing 50 may include a mounting bolt 54 or the like which is rigidly secured to the rear end of the housing 50 for mounting the lamp structure upon any conventional support means. The housing 50 further includes a single-element, resilient lamp support 16 which is identical to the lamp support 16 of FIGURE 1. A lamp 14 including a circumferential flange 28 is mounted within the annular cavity 26 formed within the single-element, resilient lamp support 16 in a manner identical to the mounting arrangement of the embodiment of FIGURE 1. An additional feature which is brought out by this embodiment is the fact that the single-element, resilient lamp support 16 not only forms the only means of mounting the lamp 14 within the dome-shaped housing 50 but also acts to completely seal the lamp 14 therein. Accordingly, a pair of electrical leads 56 and 58 are joined to the rear of the lamp 14 at terminal 60 while the other end of lead 56 is grounded in a conventional fashion to the inner side of the domed housing 50 as indicated at 62. The other end of lead 58 is connected to an outside terminal 64 by means of a conductor which extends through a cylindrical insulator 66 to an inner screw coupling 68. The respective connections may be made between leads 56 and 58 to the terminal portion 60 of lamp 14 prior to the lamp being inserted within the annular cavity 26. After insertion, the leads and the terminals within the domed housing are sealed from the ambient atmosphere and are thus protected by the inherent sealing properties of the single-element, resilient lamp support 16.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention, as applied to preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A single-element, resilient lamp support for supporting a lamp having a circumferential flange portion within a cylindrical housing member, said cylindrical housing member having a plurality of lug-receiving openings therein, said single-element, resilient support comprising: substantially parallel inner and outer spaced resilient annuluses, said inner annulus including inwardly directed front and rear annular ribs, said ribs defining an annular cavity to receive said circumferential lamp flange, said outer annulus adapted to extend rearwardly along the outer surface of said cylindrical housing member, at least one resilient lug formed integrally with said outer annulus at the rear thereof and extending inwardly therefrom, said lug adapted to fit within one of said lug-receiving openings whereby the outer annulus is secured to the cylindrical housing member, said inner and outer annuluses being joined at their forward ends by a radially extending, integral connecting portion, the cross sectional thickness of said connecting portion being substantially less than the over-all cross sectional thickness of either said inner or outer annuluses, whereby the natural resilience of said support is greatly enhanced, said inwardly directed lug having a leg portion with a first surface engaging the cylindrical housing member and an oppositely facing surface lying adjacent the other surface of said inner annulus opposite said rearward annular rib whereby said leg portion contacts said inner annulus to prevent excessive oscillation of said lamp Within said cylindrical housing member.

2. A single-element, resilient lamp support for supporting a lamp having a circumferential flange portion within a cylindrical housing member, said housing member including lug-receiving openings therein, said singleelement, resilient support comprising: substantially parallel inner and outer spaced resilient annuluses, said inner annulus including inwardly directed front and rear annular ribs, said ribs defining an annular cavity to receive said circumferential lamp flange, said outer annulus adapted to extend rearwardly along the outer surface of said cylindrical housing member, at least one resilient L-shaped lug portion formed integrally with said outer annulus at the rear thereof and extending inwardly therefrom, said lug adapted to fit within one of said lugreceiving openings of said cylindrical housing, whereby the leg of said L-shaped lug contacts the inner surface of said cylindrical housing, a radially extending, integral connecting portion joining said inner and outer annuluses adjacent their forward ends, the cross sectional thickness of part of said connecting portion being substantially less than the over-all cross sectional thickness of either said inner or outer annulses, whereby the natural resilience of said support is greatly enhanced, said leg of said L-shaped lug portion extending towards said connecting portion and including a snubbing portion lying adjacent the outer surface of said inner annulus opposite said rear annular rib whereby said snubbing portion contacts said inner annulus to prevent excessive oscillation of said lamp Within said cylindrical housing member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,862,285 Terry et al. June 7, 1932 2,132,060 Tremblay Oct. 4, 1938 2,225,980 Casson Dec. 24, 1940 2,225,981 Casson Dec. 24, 1940 2,253,616 Falge Aug. 26, 1941 2,345,273 Macklanburg Mar. 28, 1944 2,762,908 Gaither Sept. 11, 1956 2,875,466 Nyberg Mar. 3, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 025590 March 13, 1962 Charles A. Woodcock It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 70, for "annulus" read annular column 5, line 1.5, for "other" read outer Signed and sealed this 26th day of June 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

